Written by Tom Blanchard Google announced a few months ago that they’ll be bringing their high speed fiber internet service to Charlotte. Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions we get about Google Fiber. What is it? Google Fiber is essentially ultra high speed internet provided Google. The typical internet speeds that you […]

Google Fiber is Coming to Charlotte

Google announced a few months ago that they’ll be bringing their high speed fiber internet service to Charlotte. Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions we get about Google Fiber.

What is it?

Google Fiber is essentially ultra high speed internet provided Google. The typical internet speeds that you experience today, from other internet service providers, range from 2 Mbps to 30 Mbbs (megabits per second). Google Fiber allows you to reach speeds up to 1 Gbps, or 1000 Mbbs. While this gigabit speed is the ideal scenario, most users will most likely experience a speed that is slightly slower. With that being said, the average American will still receive internet speeds 100x faster than they are currently being provided.

Why do I need it for my home?

The main benefits for a home users are the faster download speeds. Users will see huge benefits by streaming HD video with no delay. Downloading entire movies will take a matter of seconds instead of hours. Gamers, Netflix & Hulu users will see an enormous jump in performance. Today most of your common software for your computer, tablet or iPhone is available via the cloud. With Google Fiber, these downloads will be done in a matter of seconds. Google Fiber will essentially cut down on your time spent waiting.

Why do I need it for my business?

Business users will see a variety of improvements with Google Fiber. Users will be able to browse websites & receive emails quicker. Additionally updating the various software components in your business will be much faster. Offsite backup services will also work much faster, allowing business to backup much more data offsite than they ever were before Google Fiber.

Can my current equipment support this?

It’s very likely that your computer is already capable of gigabit internet speeds. Home users will not likely need additional equipment, unless you prefer to user your own wireless router instead of the one provided by your internet service provider. In that case you’ll need to make sure your device is a gigabit device. Business users will need to make sure their router, firewalls & switches are all gigabit devices.

When can I get Google Fiber?

Google Fiber is currently only available in Austin, Kansas City, and Provo. But don’t fret! It is coming to a city near you! Google is already underway to bring Fiber to Charlotte and Raleigh. While there is no timetable set, Google has been drawing up plans for Charlotte since early May. These plans have also prompted internet providers, such as AT&T, to begin developing their own gigabit fiber service. If you want to find out more information about Google Fiber you can visithttps://fiber.google.com/about/.